Belmont Club

Military No Comments


The End of the Beginning
Fascinating stuff. Wretchard pays attention to the strongly worded sanctions against Syria, in the context of the Rumsfeld visit to Iraq. It involves Defenselink
observations about the travel details – the use of the “National Airborne Command Center, a modified Boeing 747 jet designed to serve as a survivable mobile command center in a national emergency.

(Speculation alert) It may be that Rumsfeld and Myers were considering an important decision specifically relating to Iraq, one already put forward by Abizaid but requiring an independent assessment, one that required them to stay in touch with the President jointly through the E-4B. The political storm over prisoner abuses at Abu Ghraib and, to a lesser extent the decapitation of Nick Berg, has effaced the really important story in the Iraqi campaign: the US has just beaten back a major counteroffensive by Syria and Iran. Regionally, anticoalition forces mounted major attacks on the Jordanian secret service (using gas) and against targets in Saudi Arabia (a car bomb attack against the Saudi security apparatus). Within Iraq, simultaneous attacks were launched in April from both the Sunni and Shi’ite lines of departure. While both inflicted some damage, neither stroke has come close to seriously hurting the US position. It would be natural and not in the least surprising, if Rumsfeld and Myers were not considering what the American riposte should be.

Study In Contrast

Political Animal No Comments

And the Democrats let him get away.

“Most Democrats and Republicans, including President Bush and Sen. Kerry, agree that we must successfully finish what we have started in Iraq. Now is the time for all who share that goal to make our agreement publicly clear, to stress what unites us. Many argue that we can only rectify the wrongs done in the Iraqi prisons if Donald Rumsfeld resigns. I disagree. Unless there is clear evidence connecting him to the wrongdoing, it is neither sensible nor fair to force the resignation of the secretary of defense, who clearly retains the confidence of the commander in chief, in the midst of a war. I have yet to see such evidence. Secretary Rumsfeld’s removal would delight foreign and domestic opponents of America’s presence in Iraq.”

And this from John Kerry’s left-hand man;

Shamefully we now learn that Saddam’s torture chambers reopened under new management, U.S. management.”

How much less “polarized” and how much more secure would America (and arguably, Iraq) be today, had Joe Lieberman been the presumtive nominee? Americans would have had a sane and rational choice to make between two serious men, who understand that there is a fundamental difference between torture practiced as state policy and torture practiced as punishable criminal activity.
Ted Kennedy cannot tell the difference. And in not officially distancing himself from the elder senator and denouncing his statement, John Kerry is revealing that, at his core, he is still the man who came back from Vietnam to falsely accuse those he served with of committing criminal acts, before Congress, to serve his own political ends.

Nick Berg, Updated?

Radioactive 8 Comments

James has been following a new development…
ABC news:

But in the wake of Berg’s gruesome murder, it becomes a stranger than fiction coincidence – an American who inadvertently gave away his computer password to one notorious al Qaeda operative is later murdered by another notorious al Qaeda operative.

Paul, at Wizbang broke the story
CNN:

WEST CHESTER, Pennsylvania (CNN) — When Nicholas Berg took an
Oklahoma bus to a remote college campus a few years ago, the American recently beheaded by terrorists allowed a man with terrorist connections to use his laptop computer, according to his father.
Government sources told CNN that the encounter involved an acquaintance of Zacarias Moussaoui — the only person publicly charged in the United States in connection with the September 11, 2001, terror attacks.

The RCMP Is Sensitive

Moonbats No Comments

survey.jpg

“Survey of Canadians Views of RCMP Policing Services 2004

1 = Strongly disagree …..2…….3…….4…… Strongly Agree = 5

hmmm…. ok. couple of basic questions about satisfaction levels. Check. Check.

The RCMP’s services are important for Canada

….vague enough to get a 4.

The RCMP is a professional organization

Technical question. “Yes, ladies and gentlemen, you are paid for what you do.”
Obligatory 5

The RCMP is an organization with integrity and honesty.

Adscam and pension fund misuse for 2, Alex!

The RCMP places an emphasis on providing good service to the public

eh… three calls to drag away the creep who was masturbating in his car outside my house?
2.

The RCMP is sensitive to the needs of different cultures and groups

….ike a survey memo in 20 languages? 18 bonus points!

The RCMP is sensitive to Aboriginal issues

“Stay the hell off our reserve. We have a constitutional right to smuggle firearms and cigarettes self government.”
5.

The RCMP is sensitive to the needs of women

That would be me. And I don’t have special needs.
So, no numeral for you!

The RCMP is sensitive to issues pertaining to youth.

That’s “young offender” to you, Officer. Cut ’em loose….

…

  Dear Royal Canadian Mounted Police:

Just enforce the damned law.
Yours truly.
(I would sign my name, but you asked my age. You don’t get both.)

Lucky them. A postage paid envelope.

Groundswell

Blogging 5 Comments

I’ve been watching my site meter this evening with puzzlement. There are an unusually high number of hits coming in on the “We Wait” post below. High for this site, at least – over 100 an hour.
I checked to see if it had been Instalanched, I’ve checked Technorati. No clues. I had linked it to a Wizbang page, where it shares space with many, many other trackbacks, and it was trackbacked by only two sites. One of them Backcountry Conservative. Jeff Quinton mentions the traffic the link is generating – out of curiousity I clicked his site meter. He’s had 29,475 visitors in the past hour.
Wow.
update – Check the trackbacks. A lot of people are having tsunamis. Glenn Reynolds had 200,000 page views yesterday.
another update – the dead tree folks are hearing from them, too.
And Jeff Jarvis weighs in.
Wizbang has been hosting the video, and providing links to other sites that are doing the same. (The original Arab site was pulled down) – he’s reporting ” 237,000 visitors today, and the day is only half over”.
If anyone has hosting space that can help share the load, he’s asking for help. Some of these bloggers are going to get hit with very high hosting fees this month.

Hezbollah Condemns PR Stunt

Terrorism 1 Comment

As reported by Hezbollah’s European Bureau :
Hizbollah Slams Beheading of American as Un-Islamic

“Hizbollah condemns this horrible act that has done very great harm to Islam and Muslims by this group that claims affiliation to the religion of mercy, compassion and humane principles,” the Shi’ite Muslim group said in a statement.
…
“The timing of this act that overshadowed the scandal over the abuse of Iraqi prisoners in occupation forces prisons is suspect timing that aims to serve the American administration
and occupation forces in Iraq and present excuses and pretexts for their inhumane practices against Iraqi detainees.”
The Syrian-backed group which the United States deems “terrorist” said the executors’ behavior was closer to “the Pentagon school — the school of killing and occupation and crimes and torture and immoral practices that were exposed by the great scandal in occupation prisons.”

Those headline jokers at Reuters – had you going for a second, didn’t they?

We Wait

Terrorism 19 Comments

Last week George Bush apologized for what had been done at Abu Ghairb in the name of the United States Of America. Donald Rumsfeld apologized for what had been done in the name of the US military.
Today, as we witness the double standard of our major media in all its blazing glory, endlessly repeating the photographs from Abu Ghairb while “protecting” us from the “upsetting” scenes of a screaming Nick Berg having his head sawed off… we wait.
We wait for the clamour in the press.
We wait for the outraged editorials.
We wait for prominant politicians’ and pundits’ calls for resignations.
We wait for the pledge to help hunt down the perpetrators and set right past wrongs.
But most of all, we wait for the apology.
From the leaders of Islam, the religion of peace.
For what has been done in their name.

911 Commission to Interview Al Queda

Media 1 Comment

Oh, that’s still on?

With just 11 weeks to complete a full account of the worst terrorist attack in American history, the leaders of the 9/11 commission say they have had unprecedented access to classified documents – and are planning to question suspected members of Al Qaeda being held by the US government.
“We have had access to documents that nobody has ever had access to before in the Congress or investigatory committees,” said Thomas Kean, chairman of the National Commission on Terrorist Attacks upon the United States, at a Monitor breakfast Tuesday. “We have gotten in the end every document we have requested…. We have also been able to interview every single person we requested.”

I wonder where the press is on this. Why, just a few weeks ago we were being blanketed with wall to wall criticism of the Bush administration “stonewalling” over Condi Rice’s testimony. Followed of course, by the endless replays of 7 second sound bites from her appearance.

The commission has won access to several copies of the Presidential Daily Brief (PDB), the top secret intelligence report that the president and a few top officials receive each weekday morning. One such report to President Bush was declassified and released to the public.
At the breakfast, commissioner Kean said the panel has asked the White House to release a Clinton-era PDB concerning Al Qaeda for its report. The public may be surprised when the document is released, Mr. Hamilton noted. “The product of intelligence, which I think many people expect to be very precise and very accurate and very unambiguous, is anything but,” he said. “The product of intelligence raises as many questions as it answers.”

An ambiguous intelligence report about Al Queda from the Clinton era?
I can see the headline now.
On page 17.
Under the Toyota Sales Event ad.
via Drudge

Schwarzenegger Comes Calling On Klein

Not Quite News 1 Comment

Toronto Star;

EDMONTON – The Terminator came calling and Alberta Premier Ralph Klein was up for the challenge.
California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger phoned Klein yesterday to place a wager on the Calgary-San Jose National Hockey League playoff series and the duo agreed to put up $1,000 each on the outcome of the best-of-seven semi-final.
“Each person will decide what charity to support once the winner is decided,” said Klein’s press secretary, Marisa Etmanski.
Klein is leaning toward helping the Special Olympics, she said.
Etmanski added that the two leaders did not clarify during their five-minute telephone chat if the loser will have to pay in American greenbacks or Canadian loonies.
“I imagine if it’s Arnold giving it to us, it’d be in American,” she said.
Etmanski said Klein thought talking to Schwarzenegger, an actor best known for his roles in the Terminator movies before he became governor, was “cool.”
The leaders also discussed other things such as Alberta’s energy role in California, the Edmonton Sun reported in a story today.
“(Schwarzenegger) was quite receptive and hoped that they could meet face to face some day,” Etmanski said.
As to whether the Austrian-born Schwarzenegger is a hockey fan, Etmanski said he “indicated he definitely wanted San Jose to win.”
Calgary won the first game 4-3 in overtime Sunday. The second game will be played tonight.

*cough*
Except it wasn’t “Ahnold” calling. It was an Edmonton radio station, pulling a prank.
Don’t anybody tell the Star. It looks good on them.

The Left’s Perfect Storm

Political Animal No Comments

The Canada Health Act meets Indian Self Government.
Toronto Star editorial:

“In this latest attempt to do an end run on medicare rules, the Muskeg Lake Cree Nation plans to build the clinic on land it owns in Saskatoon. The band has teamed with European investors to build the clinic, which will offer magnetic resonance imaging to paying customers. The Saskatchewan government objects because it sees this scheme for what it is: An attempt to breach the Canada Health Act by introducing two-tier medicine in the province. But the province fears it is powerless to stop it. First Nations, such as the Muskeg Lake Cree, are exempt from provincial rules. Aboriginal-run medical facilities do not have to live by the health act, which forbids queue-jumping for those who can afford to pay for medical service. So, it’s over to Ottawa. Health Minister Pierre Pettigrew and the rest of the federal cabinet should put a stop to this immediately.”

Get the popcorn.

Jimmy Carter’s War

Terrorism 3 Comments

Victor Davis Hanson;

Imagine a different Nov. 4, 1979, in Tehran. Shortly after Iranian terrorists storm the American Embassy and take some 90 American hostages, President Carter announces that Islamic fundamentalism is not a legitimate response to the excess of the shah but a new and dangerous fascism that threatens all that liberal society holds dear. And then he issues an ultimatum to Tehran’s leaders: Release the captives or face a devastating military response.
When that demand is not met, instead of freezing Iran’s assets, stopping the importation of its oil, or seeking support at the U.N., Mr. Carter orders an immediate blockade of the country, followed by promises to bomb, first, all of its major military assets, and then its main government buildings and residences of its ruling mullocracy. The Ayatollah Khomeini might well have called his bluff; we may well have tragically lost the hostages (151 fewer American lives than the Iranian-backed Hezbollah would take four years later in a single day in Lebanon). And there might well have been the sort of chaos in Tehran that we now witness in Baghdad. But we would have seen it all in 1979- -and not in 2001, after almost a quarter-century of continuous Middle East terrorism, culminating in the mass murder of 3,000 Americans and the leveling of the World Trade Center.

Required reading.

ADSCAM – The Planets Align

Political Animal No Comments

Mark Cameron neatly ties together the developments in Adscam today.

Chuck Guit� and Jean Brault, President of Groupaction, have been arrested on fraud charges related to $2 million worth of communications contracts for the firearms registry. Two grassy knoll-ish thoughts cross my mind. First, it’s interesting how the Liberal scandals seem to be coming together. You half expect it to come out in discovery that Guit� and Brault planned their fraud over a round of golf on Jean Chr�tien’s Shawinigan golf course followed by drinks at the Auberge Grand-M�re. Second, and more seriously, it’s interesting how the RCMP investigation seemed to proceed at exactly the speed necessary for Liberal election timing. This allows the government to quietly bury the Public Accounts Committee inquiry, say that arrests have been made and action is being taken, and refuse to answer further questions for fear of interfering in a police investigation.
If one had confidence that the RCMP were an entirely impartial, non-political police force, these kinds of unworthy thoughts would not cross our mind. But given the fact that Giuliano Zaccardelli has shown himself to be a political initimate of the current government, and that the RCMP itself has been implicated in Adscam, you can’t help but wonder whether the RCMP and the government colluded on timing (or if the RCMP just decided to speed things up as a pre-election gift for Martin). Remember that Liberal Quebec lieutenant asked for arrests to be made in advance of the election only a few weeks ago

Not an unworthy thought at all. News story here.

Proudly powered by WordPress & Skyrocket Themes

MENU

Navigation